A smaller than usual, but no less enthusiastic, crowd had gathered to watch this entertaining game, which Rainey won by 15-7, and which featured quite a few talented players on both teams.
The game was well refereed by Alan O’Neill, and his team of William Allen and Paul Morriss, from the USRFR. The Nutty Krust organising committee is grateful to the USRFR for ensuring all games are refereed by teams of three who are members of the USRFR.
The Rainey team had built up a 5-0 lead by the interval through an unconverted try from James Henning.
Omagh started the second half strongly with players such as David Allen, Dara Daley and Cullen Granleese to the fore. However, the well organised Rainey defence ensured that, at that stage of the game, the whitewash was not crossed.
Rainey then started to control both territory and possession and scored their second unconverted try of the game when Ronan Doherty carried strongly before touching down for the try.
The Omagh Academicals U18 team had contributed a lot to the game and got some reward for their endeavours when, following a rare second half intrusion into the Rainey “Red” zone, the impressive Dan Loane ran in for a try.
Ben Dempsey added the conversion to see the Rainey lead cut to 10-7.
However, with the final play of the game, the Rainey team secured their 15-7 victory with a fine individual run in from Daniel Ennis McManus who touched down for an unconverted try.
As usual with the Nutty Krust Tournament, the players all received a post-match meal which was sponsored by Hewitt Meats, prepared by the staff in “Flat Dogs Gourmet Food” Restaurant, and organised by Ryan, the Flat Dogs proprietor. Ryan was assisted by his Flat Dog colleague, Matthew Wickham, in serving the food. All the players, as well as their coaches, received a Nutty Krust loaf on departure.
Clive Bowles, a member of Portadown RFC Nutty Krust Committee and former Ulster Youth coach, presented the Nutty Krust “Man of the Match Award” at the post-match ceremony. The Man of the Match Award went to Daniel Ennis McManus, the Rainey RFC centre.
The third of this season’s Nutty Krust Tournament games will be played on Monday 3rd March when the City of Armagh U18 team will play the Banbridge RFC U18 team at 7-45pm in the second of the Group A games.
All visitors and supporters to the game will be made to feel very welcome and are invited to use the Portadown RFC facilities before and after the game.
